These Convenient Moisturizing Pads are Exactly What Dry Skin Needs For Winter

It’s time to step up your hydration game with the Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad. Read more to find out why.

Now that the weather in NYC is finally getting colder, my skin is experiencing its first signs of dehydration. It’s been getting drier (especially around my nose, of all places!) as the weather changes and I’ve been trying to combat it by layering more hydrating products. But this can be really frustrating, especially during the mornings when I’m in a rush.

In my search for a hydrating, multi-tasker that would cut down my routine, I happened across the Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad and I was more than a little curious. Simply swiping on moisture? Sign me up!

Interested in how it worked out? Keep reading to find out.

What it is:

When you hear the product name—the Cosrx One Step Moisture Up Pad—it’s hard to actually decipher what kind of product it actually is. The main idea behind this product is essentially to smooth and hydrate skin all in one easy-to-use pad. I find this product really innovative because most of the time, the Western skin care market is about killing all the excess oil on the skin, so a lot of the pad-like products that are released end up being really drying. It’s refreshing to see one that actually moisturizes.

The ingredients:

The very first ingredient in these moisture pads is propolis extract, which is a resin-like substance that’s the byproduct of bees, much like honey or nectar. What makes this ingredient so special is that it is a natural antiseptic that effectively treats and heals skin, keeping breakouts at bay while also soothing redness and irritation. It also has antiviral and antibacterial properties, make it ideal for acne prone skin. It’s also a natural humectant, meaning it essentially forms a barrier on the skin, trapping the moisture in and preventing transepidermal water loss—something dry skin is very prone to.

The formula also contains other popular humectants, including glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which work in tandem with the propolis to provide long-lasting moisture. These handy moisture pads also contain BHA to further help combat blemishes while allantoin helps to soothe skin. These ingredients work together to create a hydrating and acne-fighting one step product that can fit easily into any routine.

The pros:

First, these moisture pads are extremely easy to use. You can use them instead of your toner, since they are like a combination of a toner and an essence.

You just take one pad and gently smooth it over your face with the embossed side and then flip it over and use the other side to wipe away any remaining impurities on skin. They’re super gentle on the skin, making them perfect for everyday use. Plus, the embossed side provides a light exfoliation, which is ideal for creating a perfect canvas in the morning before applying makeup.

The formula itself is lightweight and doesn’t leave my skin feeling sticky or greasy, which is always a plus. I also really enjoyed that these have a light, refreshing citrus scent that’s not overpowering.

I used up a whole jar of these babies before making up my mind on how well they work and I’ve got to say: I’m impressed. I figured they would provide a light hydration and that’s it, but they did help to improve my skin texture. I don’t breakout that often, but when I do, I tend to get spots of texture in areas like my nose (which is unfortunately prone to larger pores and blackheads), and my forehead tends to get whiteheads.

Regular use of these pads helped refine my skin texture, leaving it smoother and softer. I can’t say they completely solved all my skin texture issues but they definitely improved them and my skin looks much more even and glowy now.

I also have pretty dry skin and a lot of products made for my skin type still tend to leave me with that unfortunate afternoon dryness, but the propolis (along with the glycerin and hyaluronic acid) in these pads definitely work to leave my skin moisturized all day long.

I also love that these help to cut my routine down in the morning since I don’t have to apply as many hydrating steps to get my skin properly moisturized.

The cons:

As much as I loved the formula of these, I just wish there was more of it! The pads come pre-soaked in the container and there’s actually not that much leftover serum at the bottom. I would sometimes end up using two of the pads just to get some extra serum on my face. I also wish the pads were a tad bigger, like the same size as the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling pads.

Bottom line:

If you have dry skin, you need to add these moisture pads to your routine ASAP! They provide long lasting hydration without any greasy or sticky residue, plus they help to fight acne at the same time. For us dry skin girls, we often see products like these pushed towards oily, acne-prone skin so it’s about time they gave us some love too!

+ Have you tried the Cosrx One Step Up Moisture Pad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!